Guide Dog To Be, Riggs, is one year old!

As a family we have always wanted to contribute back to society through some kind of charity. We however didn't always have money to give, so we decided to contribute in a different way. And so here we are 8 years later and proud Puppy Raisers for the South African Guide Dog association.

What this means is that we give our time and open our home to a little ball of fur for the first year of his/her life. We teach them about living in a home and some basic commands. We take them with us wherever we might go to expose them to all kinds of situations, people and other animals. It is like having a new baby at home except that this one comes with a manual!

We have had 4 Guide Dog Puppies from 7 weeks old and 5 that we took over when their own Puppy Raisers could no longer do it, or were donated to the Association as adults. Currently we have handsome Riggs with us and he will very soon start his formal training. Of our previous dogs 6 are healthy working dogs with 2 who are "career changed".

I will expand in later posts about the good work the Guide Dogs association does. For today I just want to celebrate our current boy's first Birthday with all of you! He is by far the biggest dog we have ever had. And I know we are not supposed to have favorites but he has a very big place in my heart.

Here is our boy with the first picture we took of him at 7 weeks old and again on his Birthday at 52 weeks old.

He is going for scans this week to make sure medically all is fine with him and then he will start his formal training. He is going to make a huge difference in the life of a visually impaired person.

We are so proud!